Posts for January 26, 2010

REPUBLICAN LEADERS MEET- RAISE FUNDS- OUTLINE LEGISLATIVE PLAN

January 26, 2010

At the annual Republican Party Fund Raiser on behalf of the Utah Legislature this morning at Grand America, Governor Herbert was on the stump for re-election as he praised the “Grand Old Party” and legislators as they begin their work of what is arguably a very challenging session. He noted a very cooperative attitude between the legislative leaders and himself as they face the daunting challenge of balancing the budget. He previously sent legislators a budget that is balanced without new taxes. However, some would argue that some of the innovating “revenue enhancements” that are not being called taxes are just that, taxes.

Senate President Michael Waddoups praised the Governor for presenting a reasonable budget and for his cooperation with the legislative branch, something he said, they have not seen for many years. He suggested a major task for the legislature is to take back control over public lands and begin to really develop Utah’s natural resources to infuse life into a sluggish economy.

Ethics reform was the topic on Speaker David Clark’s mind this morning as he outlined the legislature’s efforts to pass a package of five bills to address ethics reform, including a proposed Constitutional Amendment to be placed on the ballot this November to establish an constitutionally-created independent ethics commission to address breaches of ethics in the legislature and other government entities. He said in emphatic terms the initiative being circulated for signatures is not the answer to legislative ethics reform. He criticized the document being circulated for its creation of a non-elected, uncontrolled panel of eight super Czars who would be answerable to no one. Not even the Judiciary is without oversight, he said.

RESTAURANT TAX SHIFT (AND INCREASE) PULLED FROM COMMITTEE AGENDA

January 26, 2010- “UMA on the Hill”

First bill out of the chute in the House Revenue and Taxation Committee was HB-48, a bill to repeal the 1% restaurant tax and replace it with a .1% local option sales tax. The sponsor suggested it was an effort to address fairness and that it was intended to be revenue neutral. To see the details of this and other bills, please visit the UMA Webpage and pull up the language.

UMA Legislative Committee members on Monday voted unanimously to oppose HB-48 with a high profile. As analyzed by UMA would not only shift the restaurant tax to other businesses in the local jurisdiction, but also increase as the economy recovers from this deep recession.

Calls to the sponsor and to the Utah Taxpayers Association who was supporting the measure, got it pulled from the agenda for this morning’s House Revenue and Tax Committee. Proponents are abandoning the idea at a neck break pace.

What we don’t need in this difficult economic time is a tax increase in the first week of the legislative session. Stay tuned; it ain’t over yet.

ELEVATOR MANUFACTURE, INSTALLATION AND REPAIR LICENSE BILL PASSES COMMITTEE

January 26, 2010 – “UMA on the Hill”

The final bill in the House Business Labor Committee this afternoon was HB-11 that requires licensing of elevator installers and repairmen. On behalf of a member company, UMA crafted an amendment to HB-11 that was unanimously placed in the bill this afternoon in committee that exempts residential operators and certain non-elevator type lifts from the licensing requirements.

With the UMA amendment in place we gave our support. Commercial elevator manufacturers, installers and repairmen supported the licensing requirement. The bill passed out of committee to the board in the House for consideration by the full house.

MILFORD WIND PROJECT AWARD NOMINATION

January 26, 2010 - By Jared Burton

The Milford Wind Corridor Project has been nominated for an award. Milford Wind looks to take home the Project of the year award, for the Excellence in renewable energy North America.

This award recognizes the highest achievement for a renewable energy project of any scale, and it can be given to a tech company, a developer, or even an individual, and it is judged on the overall WOW! factor.

The Milford Wind Corridor Project is one of the largest anywhere in the West, with the 97 wind turbines generating enough electricity to power 45,000 homes.

Note: Milford Wind “First Wind” is a new member of Utah Manufacturers Association.

OBAMA CRITICIZES CONGRESSIONAL "PROCESS" IN CRAFTING HEALTHCARE BILLS.

January 26, 2010- ABC World News

President Obama criticized the crafting of the Congressional healthcare reform measures, admitting to "a legitimate mistake that I made in the course of the year, and that is that we had to make so many decisions quickly in a very difficult set of circumstances, that after awhile, we started worrying more about getting the policy right instead of getting the process right. ... I think the healthcare debate, as it unfolded, legitimately raised concerns, not just among my opponents but also amongst supporters that we just don't know what's going on. And it's an ugly process and it looks like there are a bunch of backroom deals."

Is he suggesting the process is more important than getting the policy right; really!!

IMF: Global Economy Still Needs Stimulus

January 26, 2010 – Today in Manufacturing.net

World economy is recovering at a healthy pace but still needs government stimulus efforts to keep it going, the International Monetary Fund said Tuesday... continue at http://www.manufacturing.net/article.aspx?id=238016

BACKSHORING IS THE NEW OFFSHORING

January 26, 2010 – SmartBrief on Leadership

For some manufacturers, offshoring has lost its appeal. In a bid to cut transportation costs and boost responsiveness, companies such as NCR and General Electric are shifting their energies back into domestic manufacturing efforts. "With this new approach we're taking, we can get innovative products to the market faster, no question," says Peter Dorsman, NCR's vice president for global operations. "You'll see a lot more people returning manufacturing to America."